Who doesn’t like spaghetti for dinner? Well, it all starts with a great sauce and this is the best basic spaghetti sauce recipe around!
Spaghetti with Meat Sauce was a standard dinner when I was growing up. We just called it “Spaghetti” and that meant spaghetti noodles (none other) with a sauce made out of ground beef and tomato sauce. I don’t really remember what else my mom put in there. But it was always good and so easy to make.
I still do it today and I do adjust it based on what vegetables I have in my fridge and what ground meats I have. The basics stay the same though. It’s a simple sauce and it’s delicious every time.
Scroll down to read more about how it all comes together or click here to jump straight down to the recipe.
In traditional Italian bolognese recipes, celery is often included as one of the “soffrito” ingredients, along with onions and carrots, which are sautéed in olive oil as a base for the sauce. Celery adds a slightly sweet and earthy flavor to the sauce and can also help balance out the acidity of the tomatoes.
Drain Off Excess Fat
Use your wooden spoon to move the meat mixture to the side and then tilt the pan a little towards where there is no meat. If a lot of fat pools there, take the pan off of the heat (you don’t want the grease to catch on fire while you do the upcoming steps). Working on the counter or somewhere away from the heat, use a spoon to scoop off the fat that has pooled. Spoon it into a bowl. When most of the fat has been removed, return the pan to the heat.
Once the fat has cooled, discard it. How? Where? I pour mine into an empty milk carton, seal the carton and throw it into the garbage. You could just pour it into your garbage but then, if your garbage bag gets a leak, you’ll trail grease down your driveway (and likely all over yourself, if you’re like me) on garbage day. You do not want to pour it down the drain, garburator or flush it down the toilet. The fat has a habit of clogging things and causing problems.
You’re almost done making your homemade spaghetti sauce! At this stage you add the tomato sauce. What tomato sauce?
You can use a homemade sauce like this one. The benefits of this is that you have control over the amount of salt and other ingredients that are in there. It also tastes really great.
Or, you can instead buy tomato sauce from the grocery store. If I’m buying a tomato sauce for this kind of meat sauce, I go with something really basic. I mean, we’re adding all these veggies and meat and seasonings (coming up) so there’s no need to buy something that already has things added to it. I typically will get something like this basic tomato sauce, or even the store-brand. Lately, I’ve been getting the No-Salt-Added version, just so I have more control of the salt in the dish. If you get this one, you might need to add more salt to the recipe below. You could also go with cans of diced tomatoes and some tomato paste if you prefer a thicker, chunky spaghetti sauce.
Add in the sauce and stir.
When you add the sauce it’s also time to add some seasonings. Below I’ve called for dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and black pepper. You can use an Italian Seasoning Blend instead of the basil and oregano. Italian seasoning typically doesn’t contain salt or black pepper so you don’t need to change the salt and pepper amounts. But do read the label of yours to make sure. You’d hate to accidentally double up and make it too salty.
There’s also no real reason that you couldn’t go with different seasonings instead. If you want to make this more like a chili flavor, you could use chili powder and cumin. Rosemary and thyme would be nice as a change as well. You could also finish with some fresh herbs like fresh basil and parsley.
Add in your seasonings and then give it another stir.
Once all the ingredients are added, you just need to bring it up to a simmer and then let it cook for a few minutes to blend the flavors. Spoon it over cooked spaghetti and you’re done.
Difference Between Basic Spaghetti Sauce And Bolognese
Note, this recipe is not Spaghetti Bolognese and it is not trying to be any fancy or traditional sauce. This is just a meat sauce for spaghetti. It’s what I, and probably most North Americans, think of when they hear the words “Spaghetti Sauce.” There’s ground meat, tomato sauce, various veggies, and Italian seasonings in my sauce recipe. If you’d like another quick variation of this sauce, try my Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce.
Bolognese on the other hand is a traditional Italian pasta sauce. There are common ingredients between the two, such as onion, ground beef, and tomato paste or tomatoes. But Bolognese stands apart with the wine and milk that is included. It’s also usually simmered at length to create a thick sauce.
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
FAQ
What can I add to spaghetti sauce to Make it taste better?
What Flavour does celery add?
What brings out spaghetti flavor?
Does spaghetti sauce have tomato paste?
Although most homemade spaghetti sauces include tomato paste, this sauce does not. So if you don’t have any on hand, no worries! Although if you prefer a deeper tomato flavor you could mix in a tablespoon or two of tomato paste. How do I store this spaghetti sauce? Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
What are the benefits of using celery to season food and removing it after it is cooked?
There are practically no benefits while of using celery to season food and removing it after it is cooked. You must consume it in order to have healthy benefits.
How do you make a good pasta sauce?
Add Italian seasoning, dried red pepper flakes, bay leaves, basil, and garlic to tomato sauce; add beef and mix. Remove cover, simmer over low heat and continue to simmer all day, stirring occasionally. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain. Add sauce to pasta; serve.
What can you eat with Italian pasta sauce?
Italian pasta sauce can be served with different varieties of pasta, including penne, spaghetti, rigatoni, angel hair and fettuccine. It can also be used in other dishes such as chicken parmesan, lasagna and pizza. You can serve the sauce as is over pasta or you can add meatballs, sausage or grilled chicken.